This later revised the BJP's seat projection to 101-113, saying the "first cut" was skewed. The exit poll also indicates that Congress is estimated to bag 72 to 78 seats, a visible decline from the 2013 elections, which it had won by winning 122 seats.

Mr Siddaramaiah's administration has declared the community a separate religion and expects to split their vote as a result.

The former Chief Minister dismissed both Congress and Janata Dal (S) having any chance to form the government and insisted that there will be no need for the BJP to seek support of any "outside support" as he was extremely confident that BJP will gain a clear majority.

It would be interesting to analyse what a hung assembly scenario can bring about now. The illegal mining controversy, apart from causing huge losses to the state exchequer and irreparable environmental damage, led the collapse of the BJP government. On the other hand, Times Now-VMR said the Congress will win 90-103 seats in karnataka elections 2018.

Responding to Yeddyurappa's previous statement that he would form government in the state on May 17, Siddaramaiah quipped on Saturday, "He's mentally disturbed now".

The exit polls were released immediately after the voting exercise concluded in the State. Over 2,600 candidates are in the fray- more than 2400 men and and over 200 women.

While Belagavi district had the highest number of voters (37,23,585), Kodagu district had the lowest voter share (4,33,846).

The high-stakes Karnataka elections, that saw all parties level corruption allegations against each other, saw seizures of over Rs152 crore worth of cash, liquor, gold, home appliances and other valuables being seized.

Polling was held on 222 of 224 seats with election on two seats having been countermanded.

Congress MLA from Raja Rajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency, Muni Rathna, has been named as an accused in the FIR registered by the Jalahalli police in connection with the seizure of thousands of voter ID cards and counterfoils at a flat.

Polling for this seat is scheduled for May 28, while counting of votes will take place on May 31. Overall the Congress bagged 41 per cent of the urban vote in Karnataka while the BJP picked up 37 per cent of the urban vote.

Whereas voters elected Modi in 2014 thanks to his promise of reforms that could unlock growth in the economy there has been disquiet over his stance toward India's non-Hindu minorities, and the pain resulting from some of the economic steps taken.

P.S1. Today's Chanakya announced on Twitter at 7.21 PM that it too was going to announce its own exit poll predictions, long after others had already announced their own predictions.

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